Connector with spring contact member and shorting means

ABSTRACT

Connector block (3) comprising at least one contact member (22) provided with a first contact terminal (10) for electrical contact to a contact terminal (6) of a mating connector (2), a second contact terminal (9) and a spring part (13) giving the contact member a resilient capacity in its axial direction, the first contact terminal (10), the second contact terminal (9) and the spring part (13) being integrally made and the spring part (13) having a corrugated structure; separate ground means (19, 19&#39;) are arranged to provide a static discharge capacity for vulnerable electronic components connected to the second contact terminals (9).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector block comprising at leastone contact member, each contact member being integrally made andprovided with a first contact terminal for electrical contact to acontact member of a mating electric element, a second contact terminaland a spring part giving the contact member a resilient capacity in apredetermined axial direction, the connector block also comprising ashorting rod electrically contacting predetermined contact members whenthe connector block is in its disconnected state and being electricallyseparated from said predetermined contact members when the connectorblock is in its connected state. Such a connector block is known fromU.S. Pat. No. 4,954,087 which is intended for test purposes and toidentify electric components which are able to push away predeterminedfirst terminals from the shorting rod in the testing state. The shortingrod in this prior art connector block is not intended to short circuitvulnerable electronic equipment, such as MOS elements, when theconnector block is in its disconnected state. Moreover, the known shortrod extends in an open space in the connector block and the spring partsof the contact elements occupy a large space. Thus, the design of theknown connector block is unsuitable for miniaturization.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,903,385 shows a connector provided with opposite pairsof electrical contact members which are "shorted" by a shorting barassembly when the connector is not connected to a printed circuit board.The shorting bar assembly comprises a shorting bar extendingsubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the contactmembers. The shorting bar is supported by a spring pushing the shortingbar against both contact members which are somewhat bent to one anotherfor that purpose, whenever a printed circuit board is absent. Insertinga printed circuit board into the connector pushes the shorting bar awayfrom the contact members. Since each contact member is made up of twoopposite parts and each pair of contact members needs its own shortingbar with a spring the known shorting bar assembly is unsuitable forminiaturization.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,557 discloses a shroud, e.g. used in back panelsystems, in which resilient bridging contact members are provided. Whenno connector is inserted in the shroud the bridging contact members areforced in electrical contact with preselected terminals to form a closedloop condition in vacant module positions. When a connector is insertedinto the shroud the connector block pushes the bridging contact membersaway from the terminals, thus breaking the closed loops. The bridgingcontact members are U-shaped and need a relatively large space withinthe shroud making the known arrangement unsuitable for miniaturization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide aconnector with shorting means able to protect vulnerable electronicequipment against static discharges, the connector having a design whichallows further miniaturization of the connector and which connector canbe easily and relatively cheaply manufactured.

This objective is obtained with a connector block defined above which ischaracterized in that each spring part has a corrugated structure and isaccommodated in a separate cavity within the connector block, theshorting rod extending within the body of the connector block and beingpartly exposed in predetermined cavities. By providing the shorting rodwithin the body of the connector block and only exposing it inpreselected cavities only very little additional space is required bythe shorting rod which serves the purpose of further miniaturization.

In an alternative embodiment the connector block according to theinvention comprises at least one contact member, each contact memberbeing integrally made provided with a first contact terminal forelectrical contact to a contact member of a mating electric element, asecond contact terminal and a spring part giving the contact member aresilient capacity in a predetermined axial direction, the connectorblock also comprising shorting means electrically contactingpredetermined contact members when the connector block is in itsdisconnected state and being electrically separated from saidpredetermined contact members when the connector block is in itsconnected state characterized in that each spring part has a corrugatedstructure and is accommodated in a separate cavity within the connectorblock, the shorting means comprising at least one shorting stripextending on the surface of the body of the connector block and beingexposed in predetermined cavities. In this embodiment, a very thinshorting strip exposed in preselected cavities is used which alsooccupies very little space, thus serving the purpose of furtherminiaturization.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further illustrated by reference to somedrawings showing embodiments of the present invention. The embodimentsare only meant to illustrate the present invention and not to limit itsscope. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a hand-held telephone set according to theprior art;

FIGS. 2a and 2b show connectors used in the prior art arrangementaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a connector block provided with acorrugated spring contact member largely known as such;

FIG. 4 shows a connector block according to FIG. 3 accommodated within aconnector housing connected to a conventional cable;

FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c show different embodiments of the spring part of thespring contact member;

FIG. 6 shows a functional relationship between the force necessary tocompress the spring contact member in its axial direction and thecompression distance;

FIG. 7a shows a top view of one embodiment of the spring contact member;

FIG. 7b shows a side view of the spring contact member according to FIG.7a;

FIG. 7c shows a side view of the spring contact member according to FIG.7a but perpendicular to the side view of FIG. 7b;

FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b show, schematically, different possible orientationsof the spring contact member 22 relative to the housing of the connectorblock;

FIG. 9 shows a connector with several spring contact members and oneground conductor to establish a static discharge possibility to ground;

FIG. 10a shows a cross section along line X--X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10b shows an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 10a;

FIG. 11a shows a cross section view along line XI--XI in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11b shows an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 11a;

FIG. 12a shows a cross section of an alternative embodiment of theconnector with a spring contact member according to the invention;

FIG. 12b shows a detail of the connector according to FIG. 11a;

FIG. 12c shows a detail of a cross section through another cavity of theconnector according to the embodiment of FIG. 12a;

FIGS. 13a, 13b, 13c illustrate a method to produce a C-shaped springcontact member or a connector according to the invention;

FIG. 14 shows a C-shaped spring contact member and U-shaped springcontact member within a connector block;

FIG. 15 shows an alternative arrangement of two C-shaped spring contactmembers for a connector according to the invention;

FIG. 16 shows a further embodiment of a spring contact member for aconnector according to the invention;

FIG. 17a shows a spring contact member with V-shaped corrugations for aconnector according to the invention and

FIG. 17b shows a side view of the spring contact member of FIG. 17a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a hand-held telephone set known per se andcomprising a telephone cradle 1 and a separate housing 4. The separatehousing 4 may have any convenient shape, e.g. a large U-shape able toentirely accommodate the telephone cradle 1. The housing 4 may be fixedto a wall, a dash board of a car, etc. The housing 54 is made of anysuitable material, e.g. plastic.

The telephone cradle 1 can be connected to and disconnected from thehousing 4. To this end, the telephone cradle 1 is provided with a cradleconnector 2 and the housing 4 with a connector block 3. Such a hand-heldtelephone set must meet very demanding requirements. First of all, theforce necessary to connect the telephone cradle to the housing 4 must beas low as possible. Secondly, the electrical connection between thecradle connector 2 and the connector block 3 must be very reliable, evenafter very many connections and disconnections: the cradle connector 2and the connector block 3 must be designed for as many connecting anddisconnecting operations as at least ten thousand. Thirdly, the cradleconnector 2 and the connector block 3 must be designed as small aspossible. Sometimes, fifteen or more electrical connections have to bemade. However, the overall dimensions of the telephone cradle 1 arelargely dependent on the dimensions of the cradle connector 2 and theconnector block 3. Especially, the pitch distance between neighboringcontact members in the cradle connector 2 and the connector block 3 mustbe as small as possible. Moreover, the thickness and the width of thecradle connector 2 and the connector block 3 have to be as small aspossible. Fourthly, any operator of the telephone cradle 1 must beallowed to connect the telephone cradle 1 to the housing 4 from abeveled position, i.e. from a position in which the length direction ofthe telephone cradle 1 does not coincide with the axial direction of thecontact members of the connector block 3.

Because of the fourth requirement mentioned above the cradle connector 2cannot simply be provided with female type terminals to receive maletype contact terminals 10 (FIG. 2B) of the connector block 3. Thecontact terminals 6 of the cradle connector 2 have to be designed insuch a way that in the connecting state between the cradle connector 2and the connector block 3 a sliding contact is provided between therespective contact terminals 6 (FIG. 2A) and the contact terminals 10(FIG. 2B). Therefore, the contact terminals 6 of the cradle connector 2are usually provided with flat extremities, as shown in FIG. 2a.

The cradle connector 2 and the connector block 3 may be provided with atleast one switch coax line for guiding signals which have to be shieldedfrom the outside world.

However, when the option of a sliding contact between the contactterminals 6 and the contact terminals 10 is chosen, each of the contactmembers of the connector block 3 have to be provided with a springaction in the axial direction of each contact member.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a connector block 3 along one ofthe contact members 22. Such a connector block is essentially known fromU.S. Pat. No. 4,773,877 albeit for purposes of testing electroniccomponents. The contact member 22 is accommodated within a cavity 24within the insulating housing 11. The contact member 22 is an integralmember comprising a contact terminal 10 for electrical contact to amating contact terminal 6 (FIG. 2A), a contact pin 9 to be fixed to aprinted circuit board in a manner known to any person skilled in the artand a corrugated spring part 13. The contact member shown in FIG. 3 issubstantially flat and may, advantageously, be made by stamping from asheet of thin metal, e.g. made of phosphor bronze.

The connector block 3 may be arranged in a housing as shown in FIG. 1.However, the connector block 3 shown in FIG. 3 may also be accommodatedwithin the housing 14 of a connector connected to a cable 15, as shownin FIG. 4. There is no restriction as to the location where theconnector block 3 of FIG. 3 may be arranged. Moreover, there is norestriction as to the number of spring contact members 22 within thehousing 11 of the connector block 3, or their arrangement within theconnector block 3. Like the prior art connector block 3, shown in FIG.2b, the connector block 3 according to the invention may be providedwith one or more switch coax lines 12 or any other kind of contactmembers.

FIG. 5a shows a side view of several legs of a corrugated spring part 13of a spring contact member 22. The corrugated spring part 13 comprisesseveral adjacent U-shapes, adjacent U-shapes being oppositely arranged.In FIG. 5a R designates a radius of each U-shape base. Reference sign Xdesignates the width of each of the legs, whereas reference sign Ydesignates the width of each of the bases. In the arrangement accordingto FIG. 5a the following relation holds: Y=X.

FIG. 5b and 5c show alternative embodiments of the corrugated springpart 13 of a spring contact member 22. Reference signs X and Y designatethe same dimensions as in FIG. 5a. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5bthe relation Y>X holds, whereas in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5c therelation Y<X holds.

By varying the radius R and the width X of the legs, and the width Y ofthe base the force necessary to compress the spring contact member 22may be varied. FIG. 6 shows a functional relationship between said forceand the compression distance for some selected dimensions of X, Y, andR. The dimensions given are in millimeters. Of course, the relationshipshown in FIG. 6 also depends on the material from which the springcontact member 22 is made. Preferably, the force necessary to compressthe spring contact member 22 is constant, and independent of thecompression distance. However, in practice this is not possible. Thedimensions of X, Y, and R are preferably chosen in such a way that theforce necessary to compress the spring contact member 22 is between 0.2and 0.4 Newton.

FIG. 7a shows a further embodiment of a connector block 3. FIG. 7a showsa top view, whereas FIG. 7b shows a side view in the direction of arrowP1 in FIG. 7a and FIG. 7c shows another side view in the direction ofarrow P2 in FIG. 7a. Arrows P1 and P2 are perpendicular to each other.In the embodiment of FIGS. 7a, 7b, and 7c each of the contact terminals10 is provided with a bent extremity 16 in order to establish a lesssharp contact member 10 and to enhance the possible number of connectingand disconnecting operations between the connector block 3 and themating cradle connector 2 (FIG. 2A). Preferably each of the bentextremities 16 is provided with a dimple 17 to further enhance thepossible number of connecting and disconnecting operations.

Also shown in FIGS. 7a, 7b, and 7c is a rib 18 arranged in the axialdirection of each contact terminal 10 in order to enforce the rigidityof each of the contact terminals 10.

FIG. 8a and 8b show two different possible orientations of the springcontact members 22. both FIGS. 8a and 8b show schematically top views ofa connector block 3 having contact terminals arranged along one line L1.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8a, the spring contact members 22 havean angle of inclination relative to line L1 smaller than π, whereas inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 8b the angle of inclination between thespring contact members 22 and line L1 is substantially π. The advantageof the embodiment according to FIG. 8a is that the width W1 of theconnector block 3 may be smaller than the width W2 of the connectorblock 3 in the embodiment according to FIG. 8b.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a connector block 3 which is provided with aground conductor 19. The ground conductor 19 is, during operation,connected to ground, e.g. through a contact pin connected to a groundlayer on a printed circuit board to which the connector block 3 isconnected. The purpose of the ground conductor 19 is to provide a staticdischarge capability for selected contact members 22, e.g. those contactmembers 22 which are connected to (C)MOS circuit parts on a printedcircuit board.

FIG. 10a shows a cross section through the connector block 3 accordingto FIG. 9 along line X--X, whereas FIG. 11a shows a cross sectionthrough the connector block 3 according to FIG. 9 along line XI-XI. FIG.10b shows an enlarged view of the ground conductor 19 from the crosssection of FIG. 10a, whereas FIG. 11b shows an enlarged view of theground conductor 19 from the cross section of FIG. 11a.

FIGS. 10a and 10b show that each of the contact members 22 may beprovided with an extension 21 at the extremity part of the corrugatedspring part 13 adjacent to the ground conductor 19. In the disconnectedstate of the connector block 3 the extension 21 is forced to theextremity of the cavity within the insulating housing 11 of theconnector block by the spring action of the corrugated spring part 13.The extension 21 shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b is insulated from the groundconductor 19 by a wall part of the insulating housing 11. Consequently,there is no electrical contact between the extension 21, and the groundconductor 19 and no static discharge capability is provided for.

However, the extension 21 of the contact member 22 shown in FIGS. 11aand 11b electrically contacts the ground conductor 19 when the connectorblock 3 is not connected to a cradle connector 2 and the extensions 21is forced to the extremity of the cavity within the housing 11. Noinsulating wall is present between the ground conductor 19 and theextension 21 in FIGS. 11a and 11b. Therefore, any static charge on thecontact member 22 in FIGS. 11a and 11b will be conducted to groundthrough the ground conductor 19 when the connector block 3 isdisconnected. Static charges on the contact member 22 of FIGS. 11a and11b are not able to damage (C)MOS circuit parts on a printed circuitboard connected to contact pin 9.

The ground conductor 19 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9, 10a, 10b,11a, and 11b is made of a small rod from any suitable metal, e.g.phosphor bronze. However, it is also possible to provide a groundconductor strip 19' instead of a rod 19: FIGS. 12a, 12b and 12c. Theground conductor strip 19' may be applied to the inside wall of theinsulating housing 11 of the connector block 3 by means of a method forselectively metallization of plastic connectors as described and claimedin European patent application 94292140.3. The ground conductor strip19' is connected to ground, e.g. on a printed circuit board to which theconnector block 3 is fixed, by suitable conductor means (not shown).

FIG. 12b shows a cross section through a cavity 24 in which the groundconductor strip 19' is exposed to electrically contact part 21 of springpart 13 when the connector block 3 is in its disconnected state. FIG.12c shows a cross section through a cavity 24 in which the groundconductor strip 19' is covered by an insulating layer 25 to preventelectrical contact between the strip 19' and the part 21 of the springpart 13 in this cavity 24.

FIGS. 12a and 12b, the latter showing an enlarged view of a constructiondetail of FIG. 12a, also show by-pass strips 20 provided on the insidewall of the cavity in which the contact member 22 is accommodated. As isclearly shown in FIG. 12b the ground conductor strip 19' and the by-passstrip 20 are separate from each other and do not contact each otherdirectly. The purpose of the by-pass strip 20 is to electrically contactas many U-shaped bases of the spring contact member 22 as possible andtherefore to provide a short circuit for any electrical current throughthe contact member 22. The application of by-pass strip 20 reduces theelectrical resistance between the contact terminal 10 and the contactpin 9 from each of the spring contact members 22. A by-pass strip 20 maybe provided at both sides of each of the contact members 22, as shown inFIG. 12a. However, one by-pass strip 20 may be provided instead. Theby-pass strips 20 may be applied on the inside walls of the cavity bythe method for selective metallization of plastic connectors describedin European patent application 94202140.3, referred to above. However,any other method for selective metallization may be used. Alternatively,a metal sleeve may be used, surrounding the spring contact member 22.

In order to ensure the best operation of the by-pass strip 20 thecorrugated structure of the spring part 13 is, preferably, designed insuch a way that the extension 21 is resiliency forced against theby-pass strip 20. Then, as little current as possible is flowing throughthe spring part 13 itself. The surface part of extension 21 contactingthe by-pass strip 20 is preferably rounded and free of any burr.Alternatively, the first part of the corrugated structure opposite toextension 21 may be resiliently forced against by-pass strip 20.

The provision of a ground conductor 19 or a ground conductor strip 19'according to any of the FIGS. 9 through 12b is also applicable to anyother kind of spring contact member, e.g. the ball pen-type of springmembers from the prior art described in the introduction. Of course,when the conductor block 3 provided with either a ground conductor 19 ora ground conductor strip 19' is connected to a mating cradle connector 2those spring contact members 22 which electrically contact either theground conductor 19 or the ground conductor strip 19' in thedisconnected state will have to be at least slightly compressed in theconnected state in order to avoid an electrical connection between theground conductor 19 or the ground conductor strip 19' and the extension21 during operation. In order to have such a guaranteed compressionduring operating those spring contact members 22 which have such astatic discharge capability may extend slightly more from the body ofthe connector block 3 with their contact terminals 10 than to the otherspring contact members 22 which do not have such a static dischargecapability.

FIG. 13a shows an enlarged view of a spring contact member 22,preferably stamped from a thin metal sheet. FIG. 13a further shows twofolding lines f1, f2. In order to reduce the width of a connector block3 each of the U-shaped base parts of the corrugated spring part 13 isfolded π radians about folding lines f1 or f2, respectively. FIG. 13bshows the contact member 22' after such a folding operation whichclearly shows that the width of the spring contact member is reducedrelative to the width of the spring contact member 22 according to FIG.13a. FIG. 13c shows a side view of the spring contact member 22'according to FIG. 13b. FIG. 13c shows that the gain in width is at thecost of the space needed in a direction perpendicular to the widthdirection of FIG. 13b.

Like the original spring contact member 22 the spring contact members22' according to FIGS. 13b and 13c may be provided with a bent extremity16 provided with a dimple 17. Moreover the contact terminal 10 of thespring contact member 22' may be provided with a rib 18 like theoriginal spring contact member 22.

FIG. 14 shows several spring contact members 22' which are made inaccordance with the method described above. The spring contact members22' are shown in a top view in FIG. 14 in which they show a C-shape. Thedistance between the legs of the C-shaped spring contact member 22' maybe varied, as required. Different distances are shown in FIG. 14.Moreover, the angle of inclination between the C-shaped spring contactmembers 22' and the line L1 may be varied, as required.

FIG. 14 also shows an alternative way of bending (or folding) a springcontact member 22 in order to produce an U-shaped spring contact member22" (when seen from a top view as in FIG. 14). The distance between thelegs of such U-shaped spring contact members 22" may be varied, asrequired. This is also shown in FIG. 14. Moreover, the angle ofinclination between these U-shaped contact members 22" and the line L1may vary in accordance with the requirements. As explained above, thelarger this angle of inclination between these U-shaped contact members22" and the line L1 may vary in accordance with the requirements. Asexplained above, the larger this angle of inclination the smaller thewidth w1 of the connector block 3 may be.

FIG. 15 shows two c-shaped spring contact members 22' produced inaccordance with the method described above referring to FIGS. 13a, 13b,and 13c. In order to further reduce the required space for a connectorblock 3 the legs of two adjacent spring contact members 22' may beinterlaced as shown in FIG. 15. Of course, insulating walls (not shown)between the two adjacent spring contact members 22' may be provided inorder to prevent undesired electrical contact between both springcontact members 22'.

FIG. 16 shows a further embodiment of a spring contact member 122. Thespring contact member 122 differs from the spring contact member 22(e.g. FIG. 13A) in the ratio of the distance between adjacent legs ofthe corrugated spring part 13' to the width of the corrugated springpart 13' as compared to the ratio of the distance between adjacent legsof the corrugated spring part 13 to the width of the corrugated springpart 13.

FIG. 17a shows that the invention is not restricted to corrugated springcontact members 22 with U-shapes. FIG. 17a shows a spring contact member222 comprising a corrugated spring part 13" of which adjacent legs arearranged in a V-shape. Optionally, the base parts of these V-shapes maybe bent about a predetermined angle in order to reduce the width of thespring contact members 222. The bent base part is denoted by thereference sign 23. Moreover, each of the contact terminals 10 of thespring contact member 222 may be provided with a rib 18 and with a bentextremity 16, the latter in turn being provided with a dimple 17.Adjacent bent base parts 23 may be bent in opposite directions, as shownin FIG. 17b which shows a side view of the spring contact member 222according to FIG. 17a.

The present invention is not restricted to the embodiments shown in thefigures and described above. The connector blocks provided with springcontact members according to the invention are not only applicable inhand-held telephone sets. They can be applied wherever a connector blockis needed having contact members with a spring action in their axialdirection. Since the spring contact members themselves are made from asingle piece of metal they can be easily produced. Moreover, assemblinga connector block with several spring contact members according to theinvention is relatively easy since the total number of pieces isreduced.

The contact pin 9 of the contact members can be substituted by contacttips or the like suitable for hold down applications. Actually, thecontact pins 9 may be substituted by any type of contact terminals knownto a person skilled in the art. Moreover, they may extend from a sideface of block 3 instead of from the face opposite to contact terminals10.

It is to be understood that wherever the expression "axial direction" ofthe contact members 22, 122, 222 is used a direction substantiallycoinciding with the axial direction of the contact terminals 10 ismeant.

We claim:
 1. Connector block (3) comprising at least one contact member(22), each contact member being integrally made and provided with afirst contact terminal (10) for electrical contact to a contact member(6) of a mating electric element (2), a second contact terminal (9) anda spring part (13) giving the contact member a resilient capacity in apredetermined axial direction, the connector block (3) also comprising ashorting rod (19) electrically predetermined contact members (22) whenthe connector block (3) is in its disconnected state and beingelectrically separated from said predetermined contact members (22) whenthe connector block is in its connected state, characterized n that eachspring part (13) has a corrugate d structure and is accommodated in aseparate cavity (24) within the connector block (3), the shorting rod(19) extending within the body of the connector block and being partlyexposed in predetermined cavities (24) and in that each of the firstcontact terminals (10) is provided with a bent extremity and a rib (18)arranged in the axial direction of the first contact terminals. 2.Connector block (3) comprising at least one contact member (22), eachcontact member being integrally made provided with a first contactterminal (10) for electrical contact to a contact member (6) of a matingelectric element (2), a second contact terminal (9) and a spring part(13) giving the contact member a resilient capacity in a predeterminedaxial direction, the connector block (3) also comprising shorting means(19') electrically contacting predetermined contact members (22) whenthe connector block (3) is in its disconnected state and beingelectrically separated from said predetermined contact members (22) whenthe connector block is in its connected state, characterized in thateach spring part (13) has a corrugated structure and is accommodated ina separate cavity (24) within the connector block (3), the shortingmeans comprising at least one shorting strip (19) extending on thesurface of the body of the connector block (3) and being exposed inpredetermined cavities (24).
 3. Connector block according to claim 1,characterized in that each of the extremities (16) is provided with adimple (17).
 4. Connector block according to claim 1, characterized inthat each of the spring parts (13) extend in a substantially flatsurface and are provided with U-shaped or V-shaped interconnected parts.5. Connector block according to claim 4, characterized in that theinterconnected parts are provided with legs and base partsinterconnecting the legs, the width (x) of the legs differing from thewidth (y) from the base parts.
 6. Connector block according to claim 4,characterized in that the contact block comprises a plurality of saidcontact members (22) arranged along a line (L1) and said flat surfacesare inclined relative to said line (L1).
 7. Connector block according toclaim 1, characterized in that each of the spring parts (13) areprovided with U-shaped or V-shaped interconnected parts provided withlegs and base parts interconnecting the legs, at least some of thespring parts (13) being folded in such a way that they show asubstantially c-shaped or U-shaped cross section seen in the axialdirection of the contact members.
 8. Connector block according to claim1, characterized in that each of the spring parts (13) are provided withU-shaped or V-shaped interconnected parts provided with legs and baseparts interconnecting the legs, at least one pair of adjacent springparts (13) being folded in such a way that they show substantiallyC-shaped cross sections seen in the axial direction of the contactmembers, the C-shaped cross sections being interlaced.
 9. Connectorblock according to claim 1, characterized in that those contact members(22) which are accommodated in cavities (24) in which said exposedshorting rod (19) extends slightly more from the body of the connectorblock (3) than do the other contact members (22).
 10. Connector blockaccording to claim 1, characterized in that those contact members (22)which are accommodated in cavities (24) in which said exposed shortingstrip (19') extends extend slightly more from the body of the connectorblock (3) than do the other contact members (22).
 11. Connector blockaccording to claim 1, characterized in that each of the cavities (24)are provided with a by-pass strip (20) for reducing the electricalresistance between the first terminal (10) and the second terminal (9)of each of the contact members (22).
 12. Connector block according toclaim 1, characterized in that the spring part (13) is provided with apart (21) close to the first terminal (10) and is designed in such a waythat said part (21) is resiliently forced against the by-pass strip(20).